One of the reasons SIM theft is so common is that SIM cards are so accessible. They're removable, so people remove them. Drivers can put them back when they're done using them, creating the illusion that there's “no harm done” by the theft.
Although it may seem like someone accessing your SIM card wouldn't be a big deal, there are actually a lot of things that they could do with it. It ranges from hacking into your phone to using your number for identity theft and possibly even taking control of your financial accounts.
They could take over your social media accounts and try to scam your friends and family or hold your accounts for ransom. They can even steal additional personal information from your accounts and use it to commit further identity theft, wrecking your credit in the process.
To perform a SIM card hacking through a SIM card swap, a hacker will first call up your phone provider. They'll pretend to be you and ask for a replacement SIM card. They'll say they want to upgrade to a new device and, therefore, need a new SIM. If they are successful, the phone provider will send them the SIM.
It contains information about you, most important being your contacts. It also connects your phone to your phone company. SIM card theft can happen to anyone at any time, as long as a phone company employee allows it to happen. But there are safety protocols to lower the chances it can happen to you, which I'll share.
How Bad Is a Hacked or Stolen SIM Card? Your SIM card plays a crucial role in online security. Each one is individual and tied to your personal account. If someone gains access to your SIM card data, they can take control of almost any protected account you hold — including your bank accounts.
If you have lost or misplaced your SIM card, you can call any other number on 18008899999, provide relevant information, and they will block your SIM.
Outgoing calls or texts to unknown numbers
When checking your phone bill and you see several calls or texts made to numbers you don't recognize, that leaves open a very real possibility that your SIM card has been hacked. Immediately contact your service provider to get more information regarding these calls.
Once they have your number on their SIM card, they can circumvent SMS codes easily. When they log into your bank account, the bank sends an SMS verification code to their phone rather than yours. They can then log in to your account unimpeded and take the money.
Theft and unauthorised access to personal information are common problems that can have serious financial and emotional consequences on individuals. Therefore, it is important that individuals take proactive measures to protect their devices, and one such measure is to enable SIM locks.
Basically, inserting your SIM card into another Android phone would allow someone else to impersonate you. It's easy access to all of your personal information. Identity theft is a huge concern in these situations, whether you're dealing with one petty thief or a criminal ring.
In theory, once the carrier adds the IMEI to the blocklist, the smartphone will not be able to connect to the mobile network even with a different SIM card.
Code to verify if your phone is being tracked
Use these codes if you suspect cybercriminals are tapping or tracking your Android — enter *#*#4636#*#* or *#*#197328640#*#* via the dialer pad.
Data that SIM cards contain include user identity, location and phone number, network authorization data, personal security keys, contact lists and stored text messages. SIM cards allow a mobile user to use this data and the features that come with them.
Fraudsters can try to access your online accounts (i.e., social media or banking) using your phone number. They can send a password reset to your phone and even trick automated systems into thinking they are you.
If scammers steal your phone, they can bypass all of your banking app's security features. A scammer could request a new password for your bank app (and access it through your email) and then bypass the protection of your multi-factor authentication code (MFA) when it's sent to your phone.
After a SIM swap, that number now goes to the smartphone or other device possessed by scammers. They can then use that code to enter your bank account. Fortunately, you can protect yourself against SIM swapping.
The third way your SIM card can get hacked is when an imposter gets unauthorized access to your personal data through any medium that you are unaware of. It happens when they call your mobile operator service and convince them that they are the real Sim card user.
Both Android and iOS have built-in tracking features that allow you to locate your phone remotely. These features work even if your phone doesn't have a SIM card, as long as it's connected to Wi-Fi.
In SIM cloning attack, the fraudster gains access to the victims physical SIM card and uses a smart card copying software to create a duplicate of the original SIM. In the process they get access to the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) number of the SIM card.
One of the reasons SIM theft is so common is that SIM cards are so accessible. They're removable, so people remove them. Drivers can put them back when they're done using them, creating the illusion that there's “no harm done” by the theft.
On most occasions, you can keep your mobile number even if you've reported a phone missing. You should let your network know and they'll send you a replacement SIM with the existing number; all you have to do is insert it into a new handset.